I wasn’t even sure if I was going to see X-Men: First Class. X-Men 3 was terrible and I didn’t even subject myself to X-Men Origins: Wolverine. I didn’t have a lot of faith in the X-Men movie franchise and I worried that X-men: First Class was just another mindless cash grab that wouldn’t live up to my favorite comic.
Fortunately I was wrong. X-Men: First Class was a great return to form for the franchise after it had spent some time wandering in the wilderness.
I thought X-Men: First Class was great and I really want to see it again. Below are some thoughts on the film from a Christian perspective. I’ll do my best to keep things spoiler-free but one of the characters in the movie can control metal and another can read minds. I’m not going to tell you who, but they’re in there.
Acceptance
Stan Lee first created the X-Men during the 1960s at the height of the Civil Rights movement. The comic has always carried undertones of society accepting those who are different. That theme carries through X-Men: First Class as well. Acceptance was also a theme that carried through the life of Jesus. Jesus was always hanging out with the unacceptable and touching the untouchable. Jesus’ life was marked by acceptance; he didn’t put up any walls between himself and those who were far from him. Sometimes Stan Lee and the X-Men understand acceptance better than a lot of Christians. It’s easy to draw lines and build walls and keep people at a distance. But if Jesus didn’t do it and Professor X didn’t do it, maybe Christians shouldn’t do it either.
Evolution
There is a lot of discussion in X-Men: First Class about mutations and evolution. In the movie, some believe that mutants are the next evolutionary step for humanity while others simply view them as an aberration to be feared and destroyed. Most of the discussion of evolution within Christianity doesn’t concern itself with the next but with the previous step. I could write a whole post if not an entirely new blog looking at the intersection of science and faith. Thankfully I am not smart enough so I’ll just keep making jokes about video games and my sophomoric crush on Jean Grey. I did take a class that examined the relationship between science and the church throughout history. The relationship wasn’t always as strained as it is now; in the past science and faith complimented each other. Maybe it wouldn’t be a bad thing to take some steps and get back to that kind of relationship.
Modesty
Every year at summer camp, the camp directors highlight their modesty rule. The rule is in place to ensure that both guys and girls dress modestly. Guys can’t walk around camp with their pants sagging down to their ankles and girls can’t wear shirts cut down to their belly buttons. After seeing X-Men: First Class, it’s clear to me that Emma Frost never heard the modesty talk. Just like in the comics, she spends the entire movie walking around in the most ridiculous outfits. It’s perfectly natural to attend meetings with important government officials while wearing mink lingerie, right? Well I’ve never attended a meeting with an important government official, but when I get invited to the White House I’ll be sure to stop by Victoria’s Secret first.
I’m so happy that X-Men: First Class was good. X-Men is my favorite comic and I was disgusted after X-Men 3. Thankfully First Class cleansed my palette and I am again excited for the further cinematic adventures of my favorite team of super mutants.
What did you think about X-Men: First Class?
I loved it except for the lack of clothes. It makes this movie a definitely guy movie only, I wouldn’t be able to sit through it with any of my female friends and as my friend Robert said, he was glad that his wife stayed at home.